Library, pool, and billiard table.



No. 646,264. Patented Mar. 27; I900.

S. W. vEOLLINS.

LIBRABY, OOL, AND BILLIABD TABLE, (N M d v o med Feb.17,1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

I/Wi 00mm Wm. BM?

No. 646,264. Patented Mar. 27, I900.

s. w. COLLIN-S.- LIBBARY, POOL, AND BILLIARD TABLE.

(Application flled Feb. 17, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet 2.

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B R I I I 1 i 7 3 B ",5 Q L 5 4 6 V a STAES SAMUEL IV. COLLINS, OFINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE COMBINATION TABLE CO MPANY, OFSAME PLACE.

LIBRARY, POOL, AND BILLIARD TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 646,264, dated March27, 1900.

Application filed February 17, 1899. Serial No. 705,784. (No model.)

To to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. OoLLrNs, of Indianapolis, county ofMarion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and usefulLibrary, Pool, and Billiard Table Combined; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals-refer tolike parts.

My invention relates to a combined library, pool, and billiard table..Upon a small-sized pool and billiard table I place a library-table topso that it will not be laterally movable and yet will be readilyremovable. The means for holding it in place will appear later in thespecification.

The object is to provide a table-which can be used as a library-tableand will be ornamental as such and at the same time by readily removinga part the table can be converted into a pool or billiard table forfamily use.

After the games are ended it can be readily reconverted into alibrary-table. The top is also a protection to the cloth covering andcushions. While for such purposes as a pool and billiard table it willnecessarily be comparatively small, still for parlor use it quitesuffices.

Other features of my invention reside in the construction of the pooland billiard table portion of it, especially in the construction of theresilient or cushioned edges, the pockets, and the counting devices, aswell as the general construction of the upper part of the table.

All thefeatures of my invention will more fully appear from theaccompanying drawings and the description and claims following.

Figure 1 in the drawings is a perspective of my combined library, pool,and billiard table in its completed form. Fig. 2 is a perspective of thetop portion with the librarytable top removed, showing the pool andbilliard table top. Fig. 3 is a plan of the pool and billiard table top.Fig. 4 is a section thereof on the line A A of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is asection on the line B B of Fig. 3, showing the rail and cushion andconstruction of the pool and billiard table top. Fig. 6 is across-section of the combined library, pool, and billiard table top,showing the cross-piece that holds on the library-table top. Fig. 7 is asec tion on line C C of Fig. 6.

In detail, 1 is a suitable base, and 2 is a standard or column extendingup centrally therefrom to support the top.' .Upon the upper end of thiscolumn 2 I secure or mount in any suitable manner the pool and billiardtable top 3 so it will be horizontal. Its shape is substantially that ofordinary pool and billiard tables. It is covered with a suitable clothor other covering to reduce the noise of the balls while playing pool orbilliards. Along its sides and ends I secure the rails 4 to the upperside of the pool and billiard table top, as shown in Fig. 5. This isdone by means of the screws 5, The rail on the outside is straight andflush with the outer edge of the pool and billiard table top 3. The topof the rail is straight and horizontal. The lower or under side of therail is straight and horizontal for about half its width from the outeredge, as seen in Fig.6, whereby the screws 5 hold the rail in an uprightand proper position. The inner portion of the under side of the rail isinclined upward, as seen in Fig. 5, and along the upper portion of theinner surface of the rail two horizontal recesses or kerfs 6 are'made,into which I insert the two edges of a strip 7, of rather stiff rubberor similar resilient material. -The width of this strip of rubber beforeit is inserted is such that when it is in place, as shown in Fig. 5, thecurved outer surface of the rubber will be some distance from the edgeof the rail, the rubber extending inward sufficiently far that underordinary circumstances while in use the rubber would be entirely freefrom contact with the rail. hen the rail is covered with the rubbercushion 7, as described, a covering of cloth 8 is placed on the underside of the rail and the screws 5 inserted into place, whereby the railis secured firmly upon the pool and billiard table top 8. Then the clothstrip 8 is stretched around the rubber cushion 7 and over the top of therail and also down on the outside of the rail, where it is held in placeby the molding 9, which is secured to the pool and billiard table top 3by screws 10 orin any other suitable manner. It binds the outer portionof the covering 8 of the rail, so as to hold it tightly in place. Thesaid molding extends slightly above the rail and is preferably such indesign as will be ornamental to the library-table or pool and billiardtable. These rails do not join each other at the corners of the pool andbilliard table top, but are beveled, as shown in Fig. 3, to leave apassage-way into the pockets 11. When the rubber cushion 7 is formed asshown in Fig. 5 its ends are open-that is, not closed with the rubberbutthe cloth coving extends over such open ends.

The pockets are formed, as shown in Fig. 4, by cutting away or bevelingthe ends of therails and also the pool and billiard table top 3, asshown in Fig. 3, for a portion of its thickness. The bottom of thepocket-is closed by the uncut portion of the pool or billiard table top,as seen in Fig. 4:. This construction makes a solid pocket, incapable ofwear or being torn out, and with the library-table top in place thepockets are invisible.

At each end I provide a counting device secured to the end molding 9. Itconsists of a wire 13 nearly a foot in length and with its ends securedin said molding so that the wire will be about one-half of an inch fromthe molding. Before it is secured to the molding I place on it a numberof little metal disks or counters 14.

From this description it is seen that I provide a simple and economical,yet d u rable construction of pool and billiard table consisting, as itdoes, of the top 3, the rails 4, and the moldings 9. I also provide anovel and very advantageous construction of cushion for the edge of therails. It is softer and more sensitive than the solid cushion. It ischeaply and simply secured in place and yet is readily removable. Bytakingoif the molding 9 and turning back the cover 8, the cushion 7maybe removed, repaired, or replaced, as desired. For the purposes ofthis table, used, as it will be, in residences, this cushion will renderthe table much less noisy than would a solid cushion. Likewise it willwear much longer than the solid cushion, because itpresents a muchsofter and more sensitive pressing-surface against the covering 8.Likewise the pockets as made in the manner herein shown are simple inconstruction and very strong and durable. The counters being secured tothe table itself are always convenient and in place and easy tomanipulate.

The library-table top is formed in any desired design, and on its underside it is provided with two or more cross-pieces 15, which serve toprevent warping of the top; but their chief function is to prevent anylateral movement thereof. One is placed across near each end of thelibrary-table top, so that the sides of such cross-pieces will fitsnugly against the cushions on the end rails of the pool and billiardtable top and the ends of the crosspieces will abut snugly against thecushions on the side rails. WVhile this effectually prevents lateralmovement of the library-table top, it does not prevent the ready removalthereof. pockets can be closed by plugs or other means, as has been thecustom heretofore with pool and billiard tables.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. In a library, pool and billiard table a rail, a cushion formed of arubber strip with its edges secured thereto, the lower edge beingsecured between the top and bottom of the rail, and a cover for the railand cushion.

2. In a library, pool and billiard table a rail with two horizontalkerfs along its inner edge and between the bottom and topthereof, acushion formed of a strip of rubber or similar material with its twoedges fitted in said kerfs and its central portion extended somedistance from the rail, and a covering for the rail and cushion.

3. A combined library, pool and billiard table including a pool orlibrary table top provided with pool-pockets invisible from the outside,and a library-table top removably mounted on said pool and billiardtable top.

4. In a library,.pool and billiard table a pool or billiard table topwith its corners beveled, rails that are cut off and beveled at. eachcorner of the table, moldings extending about the table whereby a pocketis formed in each corner, and a means for so closing the bottoms of thepockets that the pockets will be invisible from the outside.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresenceof the witnesses herein named.

SAMUEL IV. COLLINS. 4

WVitnesses:

V. II. LOCKWOOD, M. C. Buck.

If desired for playing billiards, the

